Belt buckle



F. M. HALE BELT BUCKLE Sept. 24, 1929.

Filed Oct. 31, 1928 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES FRANK M. HALE, OF CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA BELT BUCKLE Application filed October 31, 1928. Serial No. 316,252.

This invention relates to a belt buckle, the general object of the invention being to so form the buckle that the belt and buckle,

when worn, will have a neat and attractive.

appearance and will remain in position, as the belt will not move up above the waistband of the trousers or move sideways or circumferentially and the ends of the belt are hidden from view.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means whereby the gripping members will automatically adjust themselves to clifferent thicknesses of belts so that the buckle can be used with belts of different thicknesses.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a rear view of the buckle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of F igure 1.

Figure 4 is a front view showing the belt and buckle applied to the trousers.

Figure 5 is a view of the jaw member which carries the button engaging part.

Figure 6 is a view of the blank from which the body is formed.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

In these views, the numeral 1 indicates the body of the buckle, the side edges of which are bent to form the upper and lower flanges 2. These flanges have enlarged ends 3, each end being formed with a recess 4 in its inner face which is made by pressing the metal outwardly so that the recess is in the form of a groove and as shown, each recess is diagonally arranged. The buckle is of substantially arc shape or in the form of a flat V, so that it will conform to the waistline of the wearer.

A aw member or lever 5, of angle shape in cross section, is pivotally connected with one end of the body and acts to hold one end of the belt A to said body. A second jaw member or lever 6 is pivotally connectedwith the other end of the body andacts to clamp the other end of the belt to the body. Both jaw members are formed with the flat pintles 7 which engage the recesses 1 so that the jaw members are pivotally connected with the body and the construction of'the pintles and the recesses permits the jaw members to automatically adjust themselves in relation to the body to accommodatediiferent thick nesses of belts, as it will be seen that the jaw members can move toward and away from the body dueto'the' movement of the pintles in the diagonally arranged recesses.

As will be understood, the member 5 acts to permanently hold the buckle to one end of the belt, while the member 6 holds the other end' of'the belt when'thebelt is being worn, this member being moved to releasing position and the belt withdrawn from under the same when the, belt is to be removed.

The member- 6 has its'larger portion cut in half to form' two sections, the lower section Gbeing'loffset so that it lies beyond the vertical plane of the other section and this offset section is formed with an upward ly projectinghook forming part 6 Thus this hook portion can be placed over a button 13 of the trousers or any other suitable part of the trousers, when the belt and buckle are in place, so that the front part of the belt is held in place and cannot ride upwardly above the waistband of the trousers and the belt is also prevented from sidewise or circumferential movement. The offset portion also forms a finger piece for facilitating the opening and closing movement of the gripping member 6. I

The small parts of the jaw members are corrugated or toothed, as shown at 8, so that they will firmly grip the belt.

As will be seen from Figure 3, both ends of the belt are hidden from View and the bulky appearance of the belts and buckles now in use is eliminated. The recesses for the pintles give a neater appearancev to the buckle than if open slots were used, though, of

course, such slots could be used instead of the recesses, if esired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a buckle which will prevent 5 the belt from moving upwardly or circumferentially and one which can be used on different thicknesses of belts and when the belt with the improved" buckle thereon is being worn, the ends of the belt are hidden from view and the buckle will lie close to the trousers instead of projecting from the trousers as with the buckles now in use, so as to present a neat and attractive appearance, with the belt and buckle remaining in proper position at all times.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several! parts, provided that such changes fall ithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:-

2'5" 1. A belt buckle comprising a body having inwardly extending flanges at its side edges, a pair of jaw members pivoted to the ends of the flanges, one jaw member having an offset part forming a lever, with an up- 'Wardly extending hook forming part at its outer end for engaging a part of the trousers to prevent upward and circumferential movement of the belt.

, 4 2. A belt buckle comprising a body having an inwardly turned flange at each side edge thereof, a pair of belt gripping members pivotally connected with the ends of the flanges, one member'having an offset part forming a finger piece, with a hook forming projection at the free end of said offset part for engaging a button or other part of the trousers to prevent upward and circumferential movementof the belt on the trousers.

, 3. A belt buckle comprising a body hav- 43 ing an inwardly turned flange at each side edge thereof, a pair of belt gripping members pivotally connected with the ends of the flanges, one member having an offset part forming a finger piece, with a hook forming 5o"projection at the free end of said offset part for engaging a button or other part of the trousers to prevent upward and circumferential movement of the belt on the trousers and-means whereby the gripping members will automatically adjust themselves to the thickness of belt on which the buckle is used.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK M. HALE. 

